Samsung to play Plus card with S8, sport Beast mode and launch late

The next Galaxy smartphone, which may act as the knight in shinning armour for the Korean giant, was expected to launch or at least showcased at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona but now a new date in April is being sought.

Samsung might be going for the kill with the new Galaxy S8 due to its setback with the Note 7. It no longer wants to hurry but take its time and go in for a bulls-eye.

The next Galaxy smartphone, which may act as the knight in shinning armour for the Korean giant, was expected to launch or at least showcased at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona but now a new date in April is being sought. 

Change in Launch Strategy

Experts claim that the delay in the launch is to make sure that all battery issues are resolved unlike Note 7 and also ensure that marketing and communications teams have enough time to bring back confidence about the brand after the fiasco. The time might also be used to harvest some hype about the flagship as well.

The date change has tactical advantages as well, experts said. The push back to April gives Samsung a different tactical angle to take with its press launch. Even if Apple does not release the equivalent of an iPhone SE 2, the Galaxy S8 launch will come a few weeks after all of Samsung’s Android-powered rivals will have shown off the handsets at Mobile World Congress. Samsung’s press launch will be in the enviable position of making the last move with this generation of handsets.

                                                            Beast Mode

Apart from launch strategy, the new phone is expected to come with a ‘Beast’ mode. Samsung, which unveiled the mode in a trademark application, is expected to launch the mode in competition to battery-saving modes currently available in Android. The ‘Beast’ mode may be able to leverage greater processing power, graphical ability and increased memory of the handset.

Hardware Changes

The Korean giant is also expected to emulate Apple’s startegy of adding an ‘S’ or ‘Plus’ variant with the upcoming flagship. It is rumoured to be making two different Galaxy S8 sizes - one, called Galaxy S8, will have a display around five inches in size, just like its predecessor - the Galaxy S7. The other phone will be the company’s first 6-inch phone. The Plus is also speculated to arrive at the same time with a AMOLED display. However, experts claim that the S8 Plus has similar overall footpront as the now-discontinued Galaxy Note7.

According to a tipster on weibo who has been accurate on previous calls related to Samsung devices, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature 8GB of RAM. In addition, it will also sport a UFS 2.1 flash storage chip. In addition, S8 Plus might sport a dual-camera set up at the rear just like the iPhone 7 Plus.

Both the phones, either might be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor or an Exynos 8895. The devices are expected to be running on Android 7.0 Nougat.

New Artificial Intelligence

Samsung might also include its new AI powered assistants reportedly named Bixby (male) and Kestra (female) with the Galaxy S8. Speculations are adrift that Google is talking to the Galaxy device-maker about making Google Assistant the only voice activated personal assistant on the device.

Nokia Android Phone Releasing At MWC 2017: 6 Expected Features Of Company's Flagship Device

Nokia’s Android phones are among the most anticipated phones of 2017. The company’s ill-fated deal with Microsoft and its decision to stay with Windows Phone OS took the Nokia brand out of the smartphone market from 2014 to 2016. Now, Nokia finally plans to do what it should have probably done earlier — come out with a full-featured Android phone (unlike its Nokia X brand.) 

The company is expected to unveil three phones in the coming year — the budget D1C, the mid-range C1 and the flagship P1. To make a successful comeback, Nokia needs the P1 to be a standout phone as it will compete with leading flagships from brands such as Samsung and Lenovo, which will also release at Mobile World Congress 2017.

Here are six expected features of the 2017 Nokia flagship Android device, the Nokia P1, which will release at MWC:

1. 5.2/5.5-inch 2K display: Nokia, it seems, will debut a phablet at the MWC — the P1 is expected to have 5.2 or 5.5-inch 2K display.
2. IP68 certification: The device might be waterproof with an IP68 certification, same as Samsung’s current flagship device — the Galaxy S7.
3. Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM: The P1 is expected to be a powerful device with a Snapdragon 835 processor and 6GB RAM. The 835 is made using 10nm processor technology, which gives better performance and battery life. It should, along with the expected 6GB RAM, make the phone ready for heavy usage such as gaming.
4. Android 7.0.1:  The device is expected to sport Android 7.0.1 Nougat OS out-of-the-box.
5. 23-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera: One thing that the new Nokia flagship might continue from previous Nokia smartphones is a powerful camera. The company has, in the past, come out with powerful cameras on the Nokia Lumia 1020 and PureView 808 and it seems that the Nokia P1 will continue the tradition with its 23-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera.
6. Nokia and Android apps: While Nokia wasn’t selling smartphones in 2014-2016, it was still working on its apps. The Nokia P1 is expected to gain from the company’s endeavors and come with Nokia apps such as HERE maps as well as Android apps such as Google Drive.

Apple releases iOS 10.2.1 beta 2 for developers

Apple has released iOS 10.2.1 beta 2 for developers. The update follows the public release of iOS 10.2 last week and the first iOS 10.2.1 beta as well. iOS 10.2 included new redesigned emojis, the TV app for US users, a couple of new screen effects in Messages, amongst other enhancements.

Apple seeded the iOS 10.2.1 beta for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch today to developers with build number 14D15, up from 14D10. iOS 10.2.1 is also available for public beta testers with a release usually a few days behind developer releases.

Update will be available when we see any significant changes to Apple’s mobile operating system in this release.

New blocking technology: Mobile phones could become useless in moving cars in the UK

Mobile phones could be set to automatically stop working in moving cars, making it impossible for drivers to text, call, or send emails at the wheel.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is reportedly considering implementing new technology that would block phone signal for drivers. 

The software would make mobiles virtually useless by disabling any function that requires internet access or connection to a telephone network.

Ministers are to meet car manufacturers and mobile companies in the new year to discuss the plan. 

The move comes after almost one in three motorists admitted to having used their phone while driving, and 17,500 people were taken to court last year.

Campaigners have said they want to change attitudes towards texting and driving; in an RAC survey, a fifth of motorists said they believed it was safe to check social media and send text messages while sitting in traffic, despite it being against the law. 

Earlier this week, Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove, said: “It is time to make using a mobile phone while driving just as unacceptable as not wearing a seat belt or drink-driving.

“We need better education and hardhitting messages to ensure the next generation know what could happen.”

A DfT spokesman said: “We are determined to crack down on mobile phone use at the wheel,

“Our plans to double penalties for this serious crime should act as an incredibly strong deterrent.

“We will continue to explore what more can be done to tackle this crime.”

Smartphone manufacturers have also been urged to create a 'drive safe' mode - similar to the 'flight mode' option, which will block calls, texts and emails and avoid drivers being distracted.  

The government has already cracked down on mobile phone use in cars by introducing tougher penalties for anyone who uses their phone behind the wheel.

This includes automatic bans for new drivers, a fine of £200 and six penalty points.

And if the offence results in a death then a driver can be jailed for life